Abstract:
Apical meristems and nodal plant parts were used for mass propagation of Peperomia obtusifolia. Different
concentrations of BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), TDZ (Thidiazuron) and KIN (Kinetin) were used in MS medium. The highest shoot proliferation and multiplication formation occurred in the MS basal medium containing 1.0 mg/mL BAP. Maximum number of shoots and shoot lengths were 9.80 ±0.50 and 35.40 ± 2.92 cm respectively. Rooting response was the best in MS basal medium fortified with1.0 mg/mL BAP plus 0.5 mg/mL NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid). For acclimatization, the rooted plantlets were transferred to the greenhouse. The volatile oil of this In vitro grown P. obtusifolia was extracted by hydro-distillation and investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The chromatographic analysis of oil showed 35 constituents of which, 16 volatile compounds contributing 65.0% of the total oil constituents could be identified. The major components identified in this oil were sesquiterpenes such as caryophyllene (17.17%), apiol (16.65%), α-cardinol (2.12%) and α-caryophyllene (1.90%). The monoterpenes such as R-α-Pinene (1.00%), camphene (0.84%), borneal (0.32%) and limonene (0.25%) were also identified. The tau.-muurolol (0.68%), τElemene (0.63%), copaene (0.43%) and tau.-cadinol (0.27%) were present comparatively in minor percentages. The
caryophyllene oxide (2.95%) was oxygenated sesquiterpene, 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (0.53%) and asarone (0.41%) were phenyl-propanoids.
